This time last year we were fighting bush fires, this year we are dealing with half a metre of rain in the last 2 weeks. It has been an interesting year to say the least. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. We recently had a uchi-deshi (live in student) stay with us who also happens to be a professional quality photographer. So we will let her work do the talking. Photos by Jutta Goldmann Check out Akhalita’s…
Spring equinox… the return to balance. Think BIG picture. Something is becoming….. Coming out of winter and into the spring procession of blossom. Peach, plum, nectarine, quince, pear and then plum again. One after the other they provide a feast for the bees as well as our eyes, and hopefully our bellies if we can keep the bower birds and parrots at bay. We have built a solar dehydrator over the winter in anticipation of the summer crops and…
And on, and on we go. Where we end, nobody knows…. Down in the depths of winter now, the longest night, the shortest day. The dark has won the battle, what is left to lose? The light is at its weakest, down in the pit of darkness all seems lost. Finally, finally we let go and allow ourselves the freedom in relinquishing all, and in that exquisite moment there is a change, a shift, a rounding of the bend. The…
Dear friends, what epic times we find ourselves in. Certainly the Mabon/Equinox theme of letting go is at play for so many of us as we take stock of our lives and the extra complexities they may be undergoing as a consequence. It would seem that we are each tasked with navigating our own uniquely difficult terrain in these times ahead. And yet, it’s so important that we find ways to support each other while not putting the vulnerable in…
A Belated Solstice Salutations! As some of you are aware it has been an intense couple of months for us with bush fires coming to within a few hundred metres from where we live. There have been many days dedicated to working with others to blackout fires as they reached the creek that boarders our community and beyond to neighbouring properties. Luckily we had the support of the NPWS (NSW Parks and Wildlife Services) and the RFS, at…
Spring Equinox was such a beautiful day for me: packed with memorable moments that, while not extraordinary perhaps, were bookmarks due to a delicious depth of presence that stayed with me the entire day. A sleep in, followed by a morning play with Akai (who chases toes around the bedroom while we are getting dressed), a river ‘misogi’ (purification) and a hot brewed coffee on the deck overlooking the river when we got back. I spent most of the…
Down at the depth of night now. Breath steaming mornings, crisp and clear. Short days, mild, sun-warmed back, open to the day. Long evenings, warmed by fire, feet toasty. My favourite time of year. The time of pruning fruit trees. Such an art to know each tree, how and when she fruits. Which wood to take, what to leave. I am slowly finding my way with the secateurs. The chainsaw and axe is a more familiar route but…
The Great Turning[1] is underway. Are you a part of this? Or are you looking the other way? Time for inaction has run out. Reconnecting with the natural world that is the source of life, is the first step in remembering who we are. When we remember who we are, all manner of opportunities to be a part of the Great Turning arise. Have you put your bare feet on the earth lately? Have you watched a sunset or been awake…
Summer Solstice Salutations, Tomorrow morning Russ and I will be walking the Dorrigo labyrinth with family, friends and community in acknowledgment of the longest day of the year and the shortest night. It’s a little strange to think we are already ‘mid-summer’ (given the lag effect means that the hottest months are yet to come), but so it is. Then home with family to continue on the festivities, as this is a weekend off for us to melt into…
Spring equinox salutations! Looking out into our minimalist garden this spring, it is evident that we are in one of the worst droughts to hit the state for years. Consequently, Russ and I have decided to invest in a glockemann pump and put it in down at the creek 70 metres below. It will mean that we can keep our food garden thriving next year, which has become a priority. It will also mean that our ducks will finally get…